Outcome and Quality of Life in Patients Treated for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Single Center Experience

Background: Durability of protection and long-term quality of life (QoL) are critical outcome parameters of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. The aim of the present study was to compare results of endovascular and open aneurysm repair (EVAR and OR) with adjusted standard populations, including stratification for urgency of presentation. Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of 401 consecutive patients presenting with AAA between January 1998 and December 2002. Cross-sectional follow up was 58±29months. Patients were grouped into three cohorts: elective EVAR (n=68), elective OR (n=244), and emergency OR (including symptomatic and ruptured AAA, n=89). Endpoints were perioperative (i.e., 30days or in-hospital) and late mortality rates, as well as long-term QoL as assessed by the Short Form health survey questionnaire (SF-36). Results: Mean age was lower in the elective OR cohort (66±10years) than in the EVAR cohort (72±7years; p<.05). Perioperative mortality rates were 4.4%, 0.4%, and 10.1%, for the EVAR, elective OR, and emergency OR cohorts, respectively (p<.05). Corresponding cumulative survival rates after 4years were 67%, 89%, and 69%, respectively. Long-term QoL SF-36 scores were in all cohorts similar to age- and gender-adjusted standard populations, which score between 85 and 115: 99.6±35.8 (EVAR), 101.3±32.4 (elective OR), and 100.4±36.5 (emergency OR). Conclusions: Long-term QoL is not permanently impaired after AAA repair, but returns in long-term survivors to what would be expected in a standard population. In this respect, differences were found neither between EVAR and OR, nor between elective and emergency repair. Perioperative mortality rates were highest in patients undergoing emergency OR. The outlook for such patients after the perioperative period, however, was similar to that for patients undergoing elective repai

Outcome and quality of life in patients treated for abdominal aortic aneurysms: a single center experience

BACKGROUND: Durability of protection and long-term quality of life (QoL) are critical outcome parameters of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. The aim of the present study was to compare results of endovascular and open aneurysm repair (EVAR and OR) with adjusted standard populations, including stratification for urgency of presentation. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of 401 consecutive patients presenting with AAA between January 1998 and December 2002. Cross-sectional follow up was 58 +/- 29 months. Patients were grouped into three cohorts: elective EVAR (n = 68), elective OR (n = 244), and emergency OR (including symptomatic and ruptured AAA, n = 89). Endpoints were perioperative (i.e., 30 days or in-hospital) and late mortality rates, as well as long-term QoL as assessed by the Short Form health survey questionnaire (SF-36). RESULTS: Mean age was lower in the elective OR cohort (66 +/- 10 years) than in the EVAR cohort (72 +/- 7 years; p < .05). Perioperative mortality rates were 4.4%, 0.4%, and 10.1%, for the EVAR, elective OR, and emergency OR cohorts, respectively (p < .05). Corresponding cumulative survival rates after 4 years were 67%, 89%, and 69%, respectively. Long-term QoL SF-36 scores were in all cohorts similar to age- and gender-adjusted standard populations, which score between 85 and 115: 99.6 +/- 35.8 (EVAR), 101.3 +/- 32.4 (elective OR), and 100.4 +/- 36.5 (emergency OR). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term QoL is not permanently impaired after AAA repair, but returns in long-term survivors to what would be expected in a standard population. In this respect, differences were found neither between EVAR and OR, nor between elective and emergency repair. Perioperative mortality rates were highest in patients undergoing emergency OR. The outlook for such patients after the perioperative period, however, was similar to that for patients undergoing elective repair

Hypothesis-free analyses from a large psoriatic arthritis cohort support merger to consolidated peripheral arthritis definition without subtyping.

Current ClASsification criteria for Psoriatic ARthritis classification criteria for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) provide a preliminary definition of inflammatory articular disease. This study aimed to further characterize PsA peripheral arthritis using purely data-driven approaches for the affected joint distribution pattern. PsA patients from the Swiss Clinical Quality Management in Rheumatic Diseases (SCQM) database were clustered according to similarities in 66 swollen and in 68 tender joints. Clusters were compared in terms of other disease characteristics and studied for coincidence with traditional PsA subtypes, stability over time and treatment response upon first tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) therapy. Clustering of 957 patients resulted in an oligoarticular, a polyarticular hand dominated, a polyarticular foot dominated and a fourth cluster which was characterized by polyarticular involvement of the hands and feet. Of the traditional PsA subtypes, only a non-PsA-specific oligoarticular joint involvement pattern was retrieved by clustering. When comparing clusters in other disease manifestations, only minor and clinically probably irrelevant differences occurred. Over time, clusters were more robust than traditional PsA subtypes. Patients in different joint clusters had similar response rates upon first anti-TNF-α therapy, and minimal disease activity was achieved in 56% of 285 patients, irrespective of cluster membership. Hypothesis-free approaches to group PsA patients yield clusters with improved consistency, but without clinically important differences. Taken together, the current peripheral arthritis definition by GRAPPA without further specification into subtypes is strongly supported by the data

Dust Depostition in Snow from Northeast Antarctica: Mineralogical, Morphological and Chemical Characterization

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Dust deposition in snow from northeast Antarctica: Mineralogical, morphological and chemical characterization

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Dust Deposition in N-E Antarctica: Mineralogical And Chemical Characterization

Mineral dust is a major source of micronutrients (e.g. Fe) in open oceans and HNLC zones. In the Southern Ocean in particular, the properties and impacts of current dust deposition are not well constrained. Here, several dust-bearing snow samples collected in the NE Antarctica coast are investigated in order to :(i) characterize the mineralogy, size, and morphology of dust by single particle analyses (automated-FEG-SEM-EDS and TEM-SAED), (ii) trace the origin and the relative contribution of natural and anthropogenic particles in dusts through elemental and multi-isotopic analyses (HR-ICP-MS and MC-ICP-MS) and (iii) quantify the Fe bioavailability in dusts (via extractions). Our first results show a fine size distribution (98% of particles < 5 µm, n=1550). A large fraction exhibits a Fe contribution, either from mineralogy or coating. While the mineralogy suggest a substantial contribution of proximal rocks, a high Pb enrichment factor (x7 relative to upper continental crust - UCC) indicates an anthropogenic contribution to the dust deposition. Overall, this study will improve our understanding of dust reaching the coast of NE-Antarctica, which may represent a proxy for the dust material supplied to the Southern Ocean, by far the largest HNLC.info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Dust Deposition in Snow from Northeast Antarctica: Mineralogical, Morphological and Chemical Characterisation

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Secuencia didáctica sobre el microrrelato

El presente trabajo consiste en una secuencia didáctica sobre el microrrelato, dirigida a alumnos y alumnas de Lengua Castellana y Literatura de 4º de la ESO. La finalidad del trabajo es conseguir que el alumnado obtenga los recursos necesarios para saber escribir de manera autónoma, creativa y eficaz microrrelatos con calidad literaria. Para ello, los estudiantes deberán realizar en primer lugar una producción inicial, que revisarán cuando hayan completado una serie de 7 talleres, con distintas actividades en las que irán trabajando los distintos aspectos que definen el género. Una vez completados los talleres, se les pedirá que revisen y reescriban su producción inicial, para que pongan en juego las habilidades adquiridas a través de la corrección de su propio trabajo. Por último, y como colofón a la secuencia, deberán realizar una producción final, aunando todos los recursos que hayan adquirido. Dicha producción será publicada en una antología, que recogerá todos los microrrelatos escritos por el alumnado, de manera que tanto ellos como sus familias vean los frutos de su trabajo y del de los compañeros y compañeras, y puedan disfrutar de ellosMáster Universitario en Profesorado de Educación Secundaria por la Universidad Pública de NavarraBigarren Hezkuntzako Irakasletzako Unibertsitate Masterra Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa